Regal pelargonium plant named ‘Camelot’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct regal geranium plant with an abundance of purple colored flowers with a distinct dark purple blotch above medium green foliage. The new cultivar is compact, self-branching, and early flowering.

BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION

Pelargonium×domesticum cultivar Camelot.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofPelargonium×domesticum known by the varietal name ‘Camelot’ (Oglevee No.234, Breeder No. 95-9-2). The cultivar was developed from an organized,scientifically designed breeding program conducted at the Department ofHorticulture, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pa.16802. The breeding program was designed to create new regal Pelargoniumgenotypes with clear, bright flower colors, excellent propagationcharacteristics, compact growth habit, predictable and consistentflowering response and good post-production quality. Thecross-pollination was done on Apr. 12, 1995. The pistillate parent ofthis new cultivar is ‘Duchess’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,074). Thestaminate parent (Breeder No. 93-11-5) was produced from priorselections developed at The Pennsylvania State University. The pedigreeof the staminate parent includes the patented varieties ‘Splendor’ and‘Fantasy’ (U.S. Plant Pat. Nos. 7,656 and 7,538, respectively) and otherunpatented varieties and appears in FIG. 2. The new cultivar was firstasexually reproduced on Sep. 9, 1996 by cuttings in University Park, Pa.The new cultivar has been trial and field tested at Connellsville, Pa.and has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics throughsuccessive propagations.

The cultivar, when grown in a glass greenhouse in Connellsville, Pa.using natural light and temperatures of 60° F. night and 68° F. day, hasa response time of thirteen weeks from a rooted cutting to flowering ina 6 inch pot. The response time was determined on plants grown insoilless media employing constant fertilizer with 150-200 parts permillion of nitrogen and potassium in full light.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a photographic drawing illustrating the new cultivar, with thecolor being as nearly true as is possible with color illustrations ofthis type; and

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of the pedigree of the staminate parent of thenew cultivar.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following detailed description sets forth the characteristics of thenew cultivar. The data which defines these characteristics werecollected from asexual reproductions carried out by Oglevee, Ltd. inConnellsville, Pa. The color readings were taken indoors under 200-220foot candles of fluorescent cool white light. Color references areprimarily to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Societyof London.

PLANT

Classification:

Botanical.—Pelargonium×domesticum.

Commercial.—Regal pelargonium.

Form: Medium mound.

Height: 18.0-21.0 cm from media to top of foliage.

Growth: Upright, free basal branching.

Strength: Does not require artificial support.

Foliage: Zonation not present; stalked leaf attachment.

Rooting time: Roots visible to outside of artifical dirt plug in 14-21days.

Leaves:

Size.—Length: 5.4-8.2 cm. Width: 8.0-11.0 cm.

Shape.—Reniform; truncate base.

Margin.—Serrated; lobed.

Texture.—Rough; pubescent.

Color.—Upper surface: Yellow-Green Group 146A. Lower surface:Yellow-Green Group 146C.

Ribs and veins.—Venation: Palmate. Color: Yellow-Green Group 146D.

Petioles:

Color.—Yellow-Green Group 146D.

Length.—4.6-6.0 cm.

Stem:

Color.—Yellow-Green Group 146D.

Internode length.—2.0-3.0 cm.

THE BUD

Shape when just showing color:

Overall.—Elliptical cluster.

Individual bud.—Elliptical.

Size when just showing color:

Overall.—4.0-5.5 cm.

Individual bud.—3.0-3.5 cm.

Number of buds per cluster: 6-12.

INFLORESCENCE

Blooming habit: Continuous flowering; large florets forming full flowerheads.

Overall size: 8.5-12.0 cm.

Borne: Floret on pedicel; pedicel on peduncle.

Florets:

Form.—Slightly cupped; some ruffling on petal margins.

Number of florets per umbel.—5-7.

Size.—Length: 4.0-4.5 cm. Width: 5.5-6.5 cm wide. Depth: 3.5-4.2 cm frombase of floret to edge of petals.

Petals.—Color: Upper surface: Purple Group 78B at outer edge darkeningto Red-Purple Group 74B at outer edge of blotch. Eye gradually getsdarker toward center of petal progressing to the darkest color ofGreyed-Purple Group 187A. Toward base of petal, blotch and veining isRed-Purple Group 71A. Base of petal is White Group 155D. Lower surface:Purple group 75D with specks of Purple Group 78C and blotch ofRed-Purple Group 74A showing through. Eye: Red-Purple Group 74B atouther edge progressing toward center of petal to dark purple, almostblack, Greyed-Purple Group 187A. Veining of various shades ranging fromRed-Purple Group 71A to Greyed-Purple Group 187A is present. Eye ispresent on each petal of floret, though is larger on upper two petals.Shape: Obovate. Size: Length: 4.0 cm. Width: 2.5-3.0 cm. Margin: Entire.Number per floret: 5. Texture: Smooth, velvety.

Tonality from a distance: Medium green mound of foliage topped by anabundance of purple flowers with a distinct dark purple blotch.

Petaloids:

Quantity.—If present, 1-2 per floret.

Shape.—Irregular; one of the lower petals is cut part way through givinga ruffled appearance. It is not cut the whole way down the petal but isactually part of the lower petal. This trait is somewhat consistent andis noticed on most of the florets.

Color.—Same as petals.

Pedicel:

Length.—2.5-3.0 cm.

Color.—Yellow-Green Group 146C.

Peduncle:

Length.—4.0-5.0 cm.

Color.—Yellow-Green Group 146B.

Disease/pest resistance: No unusual susceptibility to diseases or pestshas been noted to date.

Lasting quality: This cultivar flowers continually but the umbels willlast 14 to 21 days depending on conditions.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

Stamens:

Anthers.—3.0 mm long.

Filaments.—Length: 2.0-2.5 cm. Color: Green-White Group 157D at basewith Red-Purple 62D at tips. Pollen: Greyed-Orange Group 173B.

Pistils:

Number.—One.

Length.—2.0-2.5 cm.

Stigma.—Number: One; 5-6 parted. Color: Greyed-Purple Group 187C.

Style.—Length: 1.5-1.7 cm. Color: Greyed-Purple Group 187C.

Ovaries.—Completeness: Superior. Pubescence: Very pubescent. Length: 5-7mm. Width: 3-4 mm. Color: Yellow-Green Group 147C.

Fruit: None observed.

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

1. This new variety is similar in color to the current market variety‘Jane’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,893) in color.

2. Cutting production is comparable to ‘Jane’.

3. Rooting speed is improved over ‘Jane’ by 7 days. Under optimalconditions rooting occurs in 14 days after sticking.

4. Plant habit is greatly improved as ‘Jane’ is very vegetative whereas‘Camelot’ is not as vegetatively vigorous.

5. Amount of umbels and flowers/umbel is improved over ‘Jane’ by 30%.

6. Earlier to flower than ‘Jane’ by one to two weeks depending onconditions.

7. Flowering time is also improved over ‘Jane’ from 3-4 weeks to 6-8weeks of continuous flowering.

8. Outdoor growth and flowering in central Pennsylvania is greatlyimproved over ‘Jane’.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of geranium plant substantiallyas